Nokia enters Chinese smartphone market with Windows Phone Lumia

Nokia announced it will launch its Lumia line of Windows Phones in China next month.

The Nokia 800C will lead the Finnish company’s entry into the world’s largest consumer market, to be followed at some point in the second quarter by the Nokia 610C, according to a news release issued by the company Wednesday.

“We’re excited to introduce our first Lumia smartphone, the Nokia 800C, to this important market,” said Stephen Elop, Nokia chief executive, in a statement. “We’ve created a compelling, locally relevant experience on the Nokia 800C especially tailored for people in China.”

The phones will be carried by China Telecom, the country’s third largest mobile carrier. The 800C will go on sale for 3599 RMB, or $571, without a contract while the 610C will be priced later.

The move by Nokia is part of its effort to make headway in the smartphone market. Currently, Apple’s iPhone and phones running on Google’s Android OS are dominating the sector.

Earlier in the week, Nokia announced it would begin selling the next Lumia phone, the 900, next month for $99 with a two-year contract -- another strategy taken by the phone manufacturer to increase market share in the U.S.

“To re-enter the U.S. market, we know we have to be aggressive,” Chris Weber, Nokia’s North America president, told CNET.

The phone will get strong play by its exclusive carrier, AT&T.

“At all levels, this is a notch above anything we’ve ever done,” AT&T device head Jeff Bradley told CNET. “Before you walk in to the store, you know this is our hero phone.”

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Original source: Nokia to Sell High-End Lumia in China

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